Goldstar Member’s Event Journal

How was your experience?

ClearI hated itI didn't like itIt was OKI liked itI loved it!

The ballet itself was nice...the principal ballerina Karyna Shatkovska (Masha) was absolutly breathtaking and such an amazing dancer. You couldn't take your eyes off her! I also love the Arabian, Chineses, French, Russian, and Spanish Variations...those are always fun to watch.
The reason I give only two stars is not for the ballet itself but for the whole experience. I've never been to the Wiltern before, I spend $85 per ticket for floor seats...when we arrived, I was expecting stadium seating which I have always seen at theatres...where each row is slightly elevated above the seat before. Nope. These were just chairs placed on the floor. There were no arm rests and so you were squished next the people sitting on either side of you. You also COULD NOT SEE anything going on...because the person in front of you, or two rows ahead of you, or three rows ahead of you was in your way.
Also, the line when we got there at 6:50 was wrapped around the block. When we finally did get inside it was the most unorganized area I have seen. I grew up going to ballets, musicals, and other live performances...big and little and this was by FAR the WORST experience. You couldn't find anyone to tell you where you were going...when you first got in some guy was barking at the woman that he needed to see inside the purses (There was nothing friendly about him or the way he handled this). We finally found someone to point us in the right direction...when we got inside the theatre its we saw just chairs...and had no idea where we were going since the last person simply told us go in any of the first 3 doors and someone will show you to your seat. Well when we got inside...there was no one to show you to your seat. I missed half of the performance because my view was blocked by the rows in front of me. It should have been noted somewhere about the seating, because I would have saved myself money and gone to a performance somewhere else where I would have at least been able to watch the performance.
I feel bad for the Moscow Ballet, because half of the attendees missed the performance due to lack of visability.